governor reagan, as a matter of fact, began his political career campaigning around this nation against medicare. >> but reagan wins fans and the election by staying cool. >> there you go again. >> four years later, president reagan again uses humor to handle attacks on his age during his debate with walter mondale. >> i want you to know that also, i will not make age an issue of this campaign. i am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience. >> in the next election, democratic candidate michael dukakis is asked this controversial question in his debate with vice president george w. bush. >> governor, if kitty dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer? >> no, i don't. i think you know i have opposed the death penalty during all of my life. >> the public sees his answer as cold and dispassionate and that very night, his poll numbers dropped. during the 1988 vice presidential debate, republican senator dan quayle's comparison to john f. kennedy elicits this blistering response from his opponent. >> senator, yo